Sustainable development of eel aquaculture industries in Taiwan and Mainland China. In: Leung, P.S., Lee, C.S. and O’Bryen. P.J. (eds.)

Abstract

With decades of effort, the eel industry in Taiwan has become one of the major suppliers in the international eel (Anguilla japonica) market. Since mid-1980, however, the most powerful challenger to Taiwan's position in the market has been on the other side of the Taiwan Strait, i.e., Mainland China. Within a decade, Mainland China has topped Taiwan as the largest exporter. In this paper, the development of the eel industry in these two regions is examined to see how the two leading suppliers in the international eel market achieved this status. Eel aquaculture development on both sides of the Taiwan Strait faces three major challenges:negative impacts on the enviroment, seed supply, and food safety issue. Eel aquaculture inflicted a heavy cost on the environment that accompanied its high profitability of seeds is still unsecured by artificial reproduction. In addition, drug and chemical residues threaten the food safety of eel products. To meet these challenges, eel industries must plan for sutainable development. Specific suggestions for the eel culture industries in Taiwan and Mainland China are recommended.